View source for The Sweeney

{{Short description|British crime drama television series (1975–1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{About|the 1970s television series|other uses of the name Sweeney|Sweeney (disambiguation)|the 2012 film inspired by the television series|The Sweeney (2012 film)}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Sweeney titles.jpg
| image_size           = 220
| caption              = Title card (series 1–3)
| runtime              = 50 minutes
| creator              = [[Ian Kennedy Martin]]
| starring             = [[John Thaw]]<br />[[Dennis Waterman]]<br />[[Garfield Morgan]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Harry South]]
| channel              = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| first_aired          = {{start date|1975|1|2|df=y}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1978|12|28|df=y}}
| related              = ''Regan'' (1974)
| budget               = £40,000 per episode
| num_series           = 4
| num_episodes         = 53
| executive_producer   = Lloyd Shirley<br />George Taylor
| producer             = [[Ted Childs]]
| location             = [[West London (sub-region)|West London]]<br />[[South East England]]
| company              = [[Euston Films|Euston Films Ltd]] for [[Thames Television]]
}}

'''''The Sweeney''''' is a British [[police drama]] television series focusing on two members of the [[Flying Squad]], a branch of the [[Metropolitan Police]] specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars [[John Thaw]] as Detective Inspector Jack Regan and [[Dennis Waterman]] as his partner, Detective Sergeant George Carter. It was produced by the [[Thames Television]] subsidiary [[Euston Films]] for broadcast on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network in the United Kingdom from 2 January 1975 to 28 December 1978.

The programme's title comes from the [[Cockney]] [[rhyming slang]] term "[[Sweeney Todd]]", a fictitious demon barber which rhymes with "Flying Squad", shortened to "The Sweeney" and used by London's criminal fraternity in the mid 20th century to refer to the Police.

The popularity of the series in the UK led to two [[feature film]]s{{snd}} ''[[Sweeney!]]'' (1977) and ''[[Sweeney&nbsp;2]]'' (1978){{snd}} both starring Thaw and Waterman, and a later film, ''[[The Sweeney (2012 film)|The&nbsp;Sweeney]]'' (2012), starring [[Ray Winstone]] as Regan and [[Plan B (musician)|Ben Drew]] as Carter.

==Background==
''The Sweeney'' was developed from a one-off TV drama titled ''Regan'', which served as the pilot episode for the series. ''Regan'' is a 90-minute television film written by [[Ian Kennedy Martin]] for the [[Thames Television]] anthology series ''[[Armchair Cinema]]'' in 1974. The part of Jack Regan was written for [[John Thaw]], who was a friend of Ian Kennedy Martin, with whom he had worked on the TV drama series ''[[Redcap (TV series)|Redcap]]'' in the 1960s. Dennis Waterman was cast after his performance in the ''[[Special Branch (TV series)|Special Branch]]'' episode "Stand and Deliver", also produced by Euston Films.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fairclough|first=Robert|date=June 2019|title=The Sweeney: 'You're Nicked Sunshine'|pages=42–49|work=INFINITY}}</ref>

The ''Regan'' film was seen as having series potential from the very beginning. After it scored highly in the ratings, work began on the development of the series proper. Ian Kennedy Martin saw the subsequent series as being mainly studio-based, with more dialogue and less action, but producer [[Ted Childs]], inspired in part by ''[[Get Carter]]'' and ''[[The French Connection (film)|The French Connection]]'' (both 1971), disagreed. Following this battle for creative control, Ian Kennedy Martin parted company with the project. His role as series writer were filled by his brother [[Troy Kennedy Martin]], [[Roger Marshall (screenwriter)|Roger Marshall]], [[Ranald Graham]] and [[Trevor Preston]].

Every writer on the series was given guidelines, "Each show will have an overall screen time (minus titles) of 48 minutes 40 seconds. Each film will open with a teaser of up to 3 minutes, which will be followed by the opening titles. The story will be played across three acts, each being no more than 19 minutes and no fewer than 8 minutes in length. Regan will appear in every episode, Carter in approximately 10 out of 13 episodes. In addition to these main characters, scripts should be based around three major speaking parts, with up to ten minor speaking parts".<ref name="Made4TV-Euston">{{cite book|last1=Alvarado|first1=Manuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywULAAAAIAAJ|title=Made for Television: Euston Films Limited|last2=Stewart|first2=John|date=1985|publisher=BFI Pub.|isbn=9780423013108|page=59}}</ref>

Most TV police dramas had shied away from showing officers as fallible. The series shows a somewhat more realistic side of police life, depicting them as flawed human beings, some with a disregard for authority, rules and the "system". Police officers in ''The Sweeney'' are ready and willing to meet violence with violence when dealing with London's hardened criminals and are prone to cut corners and bend the law in pursuit of their prey, as long as it gets the right result.<ref name="NotDixon">{{citation|title=The Sweeney gave us TV's most arresting coppers|date=17 November 2015|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11998344/The-Sweeney-gave-us-TVs-most-arresting-coppers.html|work=The Telegraph|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11998344/The-Sweeney-gave-us-TVs-most-arresting-coppers.html|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-date=12 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="MoreNotDixon">{{cite book|last1=Marsh|first1=Ian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3bBEAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA157|title=Crime, Justice and the Media|last2=Melville|first2=Gaynor|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|isbn=978-1-134-08715-0|edition=2nd|pages=157–158}}</ref> Until ''The Sweeney'', the violent reality of policing was largely ignored by British television. The series broke new ground for TV drama and incorporated self-awareness and genre-referential humour. This is evident in episodes such as 2.7, "Golden Fleece", when Regan brandishes a lollipop at Carter and says "who loves ya, baby" in a nod to hit US crime series ''[[Kojak]]'' (1973–78); or in 2.10, "Trojan Bus", when Regan whistles the theme tune to the BBC's sedate police series ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'' (1955–76) after a particularly elementary piece of detective work.

The series also captured the zeitgeist as it was made during a dark period for the real-world Flying Squad. During the mid-1970s Flying Squad officers were publicly censured for being involved in [[bribery]], [[police corruption|corruption]] and for having excessively close links with the criminal fraternity.<ref name="NotDixon" /> This reality served as a backdrop to the series and it is reflected in the mood, tone and story lines of ''The Sweeney''. [[Chief Superintendent|Detective Chief Superintendent]] Kenneth Drury, the Flying Squad's real-life commander, was convicted on five counts of corruption and imprisoned for eight years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Heffer|first=Simon|date=25 February 2017|title=Cheers to you, Ludovic Kennedy|page=28|work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Twelve other officers were convicted and many more resigned. In the late 1970s, this and other scandals led to a massive internal investigation into the activities of the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan]] and [[City of London Police]] led by [[Dorset Police]], codenamed [[Operation Countryman]].<ref>Andrew Walker. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3721695.stm The Sweeney's proud history], [[BBC News]], 17 May 2004.</ref>

==Cast and characters==

===Main characters===
The two main protagonists are Detective Inspector Jack Regan ([[John Thaw]]) and Detective Sergeant George Carter ([[Dennis Waterman]]). The third is Detective Chief Inspector Frank Haskins ([[Garfield Morgan]]), their boss and a senior Flying Squad officer.

====Jack Regan====
[[John Thaw]] stars as [[Detective Inspector]] John Albert "Jack" Regan, a tough police officer, often frustrated by Scotland Yard's red tape. Originally from [[Manchester]] (like Thaw himself), he has been in London for several years. He occasionally refers to his northern roots (his poor upbringing and his father's work on the [[Manchester Ship Canal]]), which prompts banter from George Carter, a Londoner, such as humming "[[The Red Flag]]". A heavy drinker and smoker, Regan has some success with women; although not as much as Carter. He has an ex-wife, Kate, and daughter, Susie, who live in [[Ruislip]].

Regan may be tough, but he is also a decent man, seen to help out an ex-informer whose son is kidnapped in 4.9 "Feet of Clay"; and his sympathetic pushing enables his boss Haskins to ask for help when his wife goes missing after a breakdown, in 4.13 "Victims"; it is Regan who finds her. Regan will bend the rules in order to achieve the desired result: for example, fabricating evidence, arranging for a criminal to be kidnapped, illegally entering private property and threatening to lie about being attacked by a prisoner in order to get information. Despite this, he has his own very strong moral code. He is unwilling to cheat for personal gain, delivers a blistering attack on a corrupt police officer, and refuses to take bribes.

Although he is seen driving various cars himself throughout the series, Regan usually travels by squad car with a police driver.

====George Carter====
[[Dennis Waterman]] plays [[Detective Sergeant]] George Hamilton Carter who comes from [[south London]]. In the series' timeline, George was in the Flying Squad prior to events in ''Regan'', but quit for family reasons (cf. ''Regan'' and 1.5 "Jigsaw"). Carter is less aggressive than Regan and usually plays the "good cop" role. He is married to Alison Carter, a schoolteacher, but is widowed when she is murdered in episode 2.5 "Hit and Run". He is a former amateur [[boxing|boxer]], as shown in the pilot ''Regan'', and is described as having professional boxing potential in episode 2.1 "Chalk and Cheese". Like Regan, he enjoys a drink and follows [[football (soccer)|football]]. After the death of his wife, Carter is shown dating various women in several episodes.

====Frank Haskins====
[[Garfield Morgan]] plays [[Detective Chief Inspector]] Frank Haskins. He is married and has three children, all at boarding school, and is Regan's immediate superior. Prior to the series timeline, the character had completed his [[National Service]] in the [[Royal Corps of Signals|Signals Corps]] "in a minor intelligence role" (as revealed in episode 2.9 "Stay Lucky, Eh?"). He is frequently seen at odds with Regan, preferring more conventional "by-the-book" policing methods, though is still willing and able to "mix it" with villains on the street, giving Regan and Carter physical and/or armed support several times.

The main episodes featuring Haskins are 2.7 "Golden Fleece", in which he is set up to be the victim of a corruption inquiry, and 4.13 "Victims", in which his wife, Doreen, suffers a mental breakdown.

During the first three series, Morgan appears in the opening titles of every episode regardless of whether Haskins makes an appearance.

Haskins is absent at the start of the fourth and final series due to Garfield Morgan's other professional commitments, but he returns a few episodes in. Correspondingly, there are two versions of the fourth series opening titles, one with, and one without, Haskins.

===Other recurring characters===

====The squad====
The series introduces several other squad officers over the years including: Detective Sergeant "Matt" Mathews (John Flanagan); Detective Sergeant Kent (Carl Rigg); Detective Constable Jimmy Thorpe (Martin Read); Detective Constable Jellineck (James Warrior); Detective Constable Gerry Burtonshaw ([[Nick Brimble]]); Detective Sergeant Tom Daniels ([[John Alkin]]).

Regan's squad car comes with an "authorised" police driver. In the first series Regan has a variety of drivers including Len ([[Jack McKenzie (actor)|Jack McKenzie]]), Fred (Denis DeMarne) and Brian Cooney ([[Billy Murray (actor)|Billy Murray]]). Episode 1.7 "The Placer" introduces the character of Bill (Tony Allen) who becomes Regan's regular driver, although he plays a peripheral, non-speaking role in most episodes. Allen subsequently worked as wardrobe manager for many of John Thaw's later projects.

When Haskins is absent, other senior officers step in to manage the squad, including Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Quirk ([[Bill Maynard]]) and Detective Chief Inspector Anderson ([[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]]), sarcastically referred to as "[[Andy Pandy]]" by Regan, Carter, and other squad officers.

Other more senior officers include: [[Detective Chief Superintendent]] Maynon ([[Morris Perry]]), a semi-regular throughout the series and more willing than Haskins to bend the rules to get a result (later promoted to [[Commander#British police rank|Commander]]); Detective Superintendent Grant ([[T. P. McKenna|T.P. McKenna]]); Detective Chief Superintendent Braithwaite ([[Benjamin Whitrow]]). [[Colin Douglas (actor)|Colin Douglas]] features as an unnamed [[Commander#British police rank|commander]] in series 1, with [[Michael Latimer]] as Commander Jackman in series 2.

The relationship between squad officers is largely informal. Regan is always referred to as "Guv'nor", or just "Guv". He invariably calls Carter and the other squad members by their first names, or occasionally nicknames. Carter, as Regan's assigned sergeant, is frequently addressed by constables as "Skipper" or "Skip". When off duty, Regan and Carter are friends and drinking buddies, so in private Carter calls him "Jack". This is all in accordance with widespread police convention. Everyone calls DCI Haskins simply "Haskins" (or "Mister Haskins"), though Regan occasionally calls him by his first name, "Frank".

==== The cars ====
The cars used in ''The Sweeney'' became almost as important to the series as any of the human characters.

The best known car in the series is NHK 295M, a metallic copper-bronze ("Tawny Metallic") 1974 [[Ford Consul]] 3000 GT V6 (often mistaken for a Granada Mk1). As well as being the main squad car used to get Regan and Carter around London, it also features in the opening titles of series 1-3, driven by stunt man Joe Wadham.

Other squad cars featured include an onyx green 1973 Ford Granada 3.0 Ghia Mk1 (NHK 292M), a blue 1974 [[Ford Cortina]] 2000 XL Mk3 (NHK 296M) (usually shown as Carter's car, but occasionally doubling as a [[Panda car]] with a light bar added to the roof), a bronze 1976 [[Ford Granada (Europe)|Ford Granada]] Mk1 3.0 Ghia X (RHJ 997R). The main squad cars were supplied for filming by [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] from its press fleet at no cost, and the producers were specifically told that the cars were not to be damaged.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-20|title=The Sweeney 1974 Ford Consul 3000 GT|url=https://drive-my.com/the-sweeney-1974-ford-consul-3000-gt/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Drive|language=en-US}}</ref> Such was the prominence of the company's cars in the series, it was jokingly referred to as "The Ford Squad".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fairclough|first=Robert|date=June 2019|title=The Sweeney: 'You're Nicked Sunshine!'|page=46|work=INFINITY}}</ref> In later episodes Ford updated the cars, providing a metallic silver Mk1 [[Ford Granada (Europe)#Ford Granada Mark II .281977.E2.80.9385.29|Ford Granada S]] 3.0 V6 (NWC 301P), a silver 1978 [[Ford Granada (Europe)|Ford Granada]] Mk2 2.8iS (VHK 491S) and a silver [[Ford Cortina]] Mk4 2.0 GL (PNO 548R), among others.

The series is infamous for featuring [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguars]] as the criminals' cars of choice.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jaguar 'S'-type Register|url=http://www.jagstyperegister.com/tv.htm|access-date=2022-01-14|website=www.jagstyperegister.com}}</ref> [[Jaguar S-Type (1963)|Jaguar S-types]] in particular were regularly deployed throughout the series as getaway cars, most notably in episode 1.10 "Stoppo Driver". A blue/grey S-type DWD 606C is used in the series 1-3 opening titles, pursued and chased down by the squad in NHK 295M.

One reason cited for the regular appearance of Jaguars is that they were favoured by the stunt drivers as being the "safest" cars to use (stuntman [[Peter Brayham]] devised the chases<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roberts |first=Andrew |date=May 2024 |title="You're nicked!" |journal=The Oldie |pages=14–15}}</ref>). The same few cars would be used and re-used, crashed, fixed up, and resprayed numerous times. According to [[Kevin Whately]], John Thaw claimed that he had witnessed the regency red 1960 [[Jaguar Mark 2]] (registration 248 RPA) used in ''[[Inspector Morse (TV series)|Inspector Morse]]'' being written off several times while filming ''The Sweeney''. Apparently, the car was in real-life a "polished up wreck" and would often break down during filming.<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=The Sweeney (TV Series 1974–1978) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071059/trivia/|language=en|access-date=2022-01-18}}</ref>

A red [[Fiat 850]] coupé (UJB 92G) makes cameo appearances in several episodes: typically, it is parked at the side of the road as the action takes place around it. One theory is that the car belonged to a crew member who tried to include it as an in-joke in as many episodes as possible.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Sweeney Forum :: View topic - Fiat 850 Coupe (Red) - UJB 92G|url=http://www.thetvlounge.co.uk/sweeney/viewtopic.php?t=750|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720174504/http://www.thetvlounge.co.uk/sweeney/viewtopic.php?t=750|archive-date=20 July 2011|access-date=2010-05-31|publisher=thetvlounge.co.uk}}</ref>

====Family====
Other featured characters include the close family of the three leads.

Regan's ex-wife Kate ([[Janet Key]]) appears in the pilot ''Regan'' and in episode 1.13 "Abduction". Their daughter Susie ([[Jennifer Thanisch]]) appears most notably in "Abduction".

Carter's wife Alison ([[Stephanie Turner (British actress)|Stephanie Turner]]) is seen attempting to prise him away from the squad in episode 1.5 "Jigsaw", while her hostility toward Regan is apparent in 1.13 "Abduction". She is murdered in episode 2.5 "Hit and Run". In the DVD commentary for "Abduction", it is claimed that Alison was written out because actor Stephanie Turner was asking for too much money to continue to appear in the series. Turner went on to appear in ''[[Juliet Bravo]]'', also devised and part-written by Ian Kennedy Martin. Carter's mother ([[Katherine Parr (actress)|Katherine Parr]]) appears at Alison's funeral.

Doreen Haskins appeared briefly in episode 2.7, "Golden Fleece", portrayed by [[Anne Stallybrass]]. She has a larger role in the penultimate episode 4.12, "Victims", which deals with her deteriorating mental health and the impact of police work on family life; in this episode, she is portrayed by [[Sheila Reid]]. One of Haskins' three children, Richard (Stuart Wilde), also appears in the episode.

===Guest stars===
<!---Alpha A-to-Z-Please--->
Guest stars in the show included:
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
*[[Joss Ackland]]
*[[Tony Aitken]]
*[[Tony Anholt]]
*[[Coral Atkins]]
*[[Lynda Bellingham]]
*[[Hywel Bennett]]
*[[Brian Blessed]]
*[[James Booth]]
*[[June Brown]]
*[[Donald Burton]]
*[[Simon Callow]]
*[[Cheryl Campbell]]
*[[Tony Caunter]]
*[[Warren Clarke]]
*[[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]]{{efn|group=guest|George Cole and Dennis Waterman went on to star in ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]''.}}
*[[Kenneth Colley]]
*[[James Cosmo]]
*[[John Rhys-Davies]]
*[[David Dickens]]
*[[Vernon Dobtcheff]]
*[[Diana Dors]]
*[[Colin Douglas (actor)|Colin Douglas]]
*[[Lesley-Anne Down]]
*[[Rosemarie Dunham]]
*[[Michael Elphick]]
{{Col-break}}
*[[Arthur English]]
*[[Norman Eshley]]
*[[Derek Francis]]
*[[Ronald Fraser (actor)|Ronald Fraser]]
*[[Prunella Gee]]
*[[Robert Gillespie]]
*[[Sheila Gish]]
*[[Peter Glaze]]
*[[Julian Glover]]
*[[Brian Hall (actor)|Brian Hall]]
*[[Cheryl Hall]]
*[[Edward Hardwicke]]
*[[Tina Heath]]
*[[Ian Hendry]]
*[[Del Henney]]
*[[Paul Henry (actor)|Paul Henry]]
*[[Julian Holloway]]
*[[John Hurt]]
*[[Ken Hutchison]]
*[[Barrie Ingham]]
*[[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]]
*[[Geraldine James]]
*[[Peter Jeffrey]]
*[[Paul Jones (singer)|Paul Jones]]
*[[John Junkin]]
{{Col-break}}
*[[Roy Kinnear]]
*[[Ronald Lacey]]
*[[Alan Lake]]
*[[Lynda La Plante]]
*[[George Layton]]
*[[Maureen Lipman]]
*[[Sue Lloyd]]
*[[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]]
*[[Kenny Lynch]]
*[[John Lyons (actor)|John Lyons]]
*[[T. P. McKenna]]
*[[Philip Madoc]]
*[[James Marcus (English actor)|James Marcus]]
*[[Alfred Marks]]
*[[Judy Matheson]]
*[[Bill Maynard]]
*[[Malcolm McFee]]
*[[Warren Mitchell]]
*[[Morecambe and Wise]]{{efn|group=guest|Morecambe and Wise appeared in return for Thaw and Waterman appearing on their show.}}
*[[Lee Montague]]
*[[Patrick Mower]]
*[[Billy Murray (actor)|Billy Murray]]
*[[Alex Norton]]
*[[Jim Norton (Irish actor)|Jim Norton]]
*[[Daphne Oxenford]]
{{Col-break}}
*[[Nicola Pagett]]
*[[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]]
*[[Moira Redmond]]
*[[Michael Ripper]]
*[[Maurice Roëves]]
*[[Sheila Ruskin]]
*[[Tony Selby]]
*[[Nadim Sawalha]]
*[[George Sewell]]
*[[Catherine Schell]]
*[[Anne Stallybrass]]
*[[Tony Steedman]]
*[[Dudley Sutton]]
*[[Gwen Taylor]]
*[[Stephanie Turner (British actress)|Stephanie Turner]]
*[[Patrick Troughton]]
*[[Peter Vaughan]]
*[[Colin Welland]]
*[[Diana Weston]]
*[[Geoffrey Whitehead]]
*[[Margaret Whiting (actress)|Margaret Whiting]]
*[[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]]
*[[Stuart Wilson (actor)|Stuart Wilson]]
*[[John Woodnutt]]
{{col-end}}

{{notelist|group=guest}}

Many up-and-coming actors also appeared in the show during its run, such as:
<!---Alpha A-to-Z-Please--->
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
*[[June Brown]]
*[[John Challis]]
*[[Carol Drinkwater]]
*[[Christopher Ellison]]
*[[Janet Ellis]]
{{Col-break}}
*[[John Forgeham]]
*[[Richard Griffiths]]
*[[Karl Howman]]
*[[Sally Knyvette]]
*[[Patrick Malahide]]
{{Col-break}}
*[[Andrew Paul]]
*[[Sandy Ratcliff]]
*[[Ray Winstone]]
{{col-end}}

== Production ==
''The Sweeney'' strived for authenticity and social realism. This ethos was reflected in most aspects of production, from the storylines, casting, locations and most importantly the dialogue. As well as the series title, other Cockney rhyming slang gave extra colour to the dialogue, including "poppy" (money), "bottle" (courage) and "grass" (informer). Criminal and police slang was also used, including "ringer" (a car thief, also a stolen car with fake registration plates), "stoppo" (a getaway car), "snout" (informant), "factory" (police station/office), "fence" (selling stolen goods, also someone who sells stolen goods) and "fireman" (someone who deals with problems). Many of these slang terms were brought to a wider audience for the first time in ''The Sweeney'', some even entered popular use, but the terms have remained part of the British crime drama landscape.

''The Sweeney'' was shot on [[16mm film|16 mm film]], allowing producers to use smaller, agile camera crews. This made it possible to shoot almost entirely on location for exteriors and interiors, helping to give the series a startling degree of realism and elevating London as a character of its own. Using film also allowed directors to feature many more action sequences. Directors [[Tom Clegg (director)|Tom Clegg]], Terry Green, [[Douglas Camfield]], David Wickes, Mike Vardy and William Brayne were among the group of "guerrilla filmmakers" that realised the episodes. What they and the crews delivered is a fast-paced series, depicting the squad's relentless battle against armed robbery; but it also includes a substantial degree of humour. For the period it has a high degree of on-screen violence, and it is not unknown for several deaths to occur in an episode.

Each episode had a budget of £40,000 with an eight-and-a-half-week production schedule: two weeks' pre-production (for [[Casting (performing arts)|casting]], finding locations etc.), two weeks' shooting, four weeks' picture [[editing]] (the first two weeks of which overlapped with the shoot), two weeks' sound editing and two-and-a-half days' [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbing]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Cooke |first=Lez |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=40UBDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT258 |title=British Television Drama: A History |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-84457-895-5 |page=258}}</ref>

The filming of each episode normally took ten working days, shooting about five minutes of edited screen time per day. Due to this, the number of different filming locations had to be restricted to ten, i.e. one location per day. At the Euston Films production office in [[St Paul's Juniors#History|Colet Court]], Hammersmith, a standing set of the Flying Squad offices was constructed which provided an alternative option for when inclement weather restricted the day's shooting. Two days would normally be spent filming on the set, equalling ten minutes of any episode being set in the offices. Shooting took place through the spring, summer, autumn and winter months; exterior night shooting was expensive and was limited to three minutes of external night material in any episode.

===Filming location===
Most of the locations used for filming ''The Sweeney'' were around the west London area – in particular, [[Acton, London|Acton]], [[Chiswick]], [[Shepherd's Bush]], [[Hammersmith]], [[Fulham]], [[Earl's Court]], [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea|Kensington & Chelsea]] and [[Notting Hill]] districts, close to the Euston Films HQ at Colet Court in Hammersmith. The [[Port of London]], derelict at the time, were ideal for filming location sequences. The opening titles were filmed in Colet Gardens. However, other notable locations in London, the south-east of England and further afield were also used for filming the show's episodes and included:

*[[Chertsey]]/[[Penton Hook Lock]], [[Surrey]] – "Thin Ice", "Bad Apple", "On the Run", "Feet of Clay" & "Jack or Knave?".
*[[Battersea]] – "Jigsaw", "Stoppo Driver", "Faces", "Trap", "Trojan Bus", "Country Boy", "Visiting Fireman", "Tomorrow Man", "May" & "Victims", "Chalk & Cheese" (Craven Arms, Lavender Hill)
*[[Bermondsey]] – "Regan".
*[[Black Park Country Park]], [[Wexham]], [[Buckinghamshire]] – "Regan", "Payoff", "On the Run" & "Hearts & Minds".
*[[Dulwich]] – "Regan", "Ringer".
*[[Dulwich Hamlet F.C.]] – "Ringer".
*[[Gozo]]/[[Malta#Islands|Maltese Archipelago]] – "Sweeney 2".
*[[Earl's Court]] – "Bait" (Cromwell Crescent & Logan Place).
*[[Earlsfield]] – Garratt Lane and Garratt Snooker Club - "Supersnout".
*[[Hammersmith]] – "Jackpot".
*[[Heathrow, London|Heathrow]] – "Golden Boy", "Stoppo Driver" & "Tomorrow Man".
*[[Kingston upon Thames]] – "Hit and Run" & "Trojan Bus".
*[[Ladbroke Grove]] – "Hard Men"
*[[Maida Vale]] – "Night Out".  (The Warrington Hotel)
*[[Peckham]] – "Ringer".
*[[Potters Bar]] – "Big Spender".
*[[Putney]]/[[Putney Bridge]] – "Contact Breaker", "Abduction" "Taste of Fear" & "Sweeney 2".
*[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.]], [[Loftus Road]] – "I Want the Man!".
*[[Raynes Park]] – "Big Spender", "Golden Fleece" & "Victims".
*[[Richmond, London|Richmond]] (River Lane; Leonard Gold's house) – "The Bigger They Are"
*[[Roehampton]] – "Queen's Pawn", "Golden Fleece" ([[Bank of England]] Sports Centre), "Victims" & "Sweeney 2" (Danebury Avenue/Alton Estate).
*[[Sandown Park Racecourse]], [[Esher]], Surrey – "Big Spender".
*[[Shepherd's Bush]] – "Jackpot".
*[[Southall Gas Works]] – "Faces".
*[[Southwark]] – "Ringer".
*[[Staines]] – "The Placer".
*[[Tooting Bec]] – "Abduction" (Trinity Road & Tooting Bec Tube Station).
*[[Twickenham]] – "The Placer", "Golden Fleece" ([[Twickenham Stadium]]) & "Bad Apple".
*[[Uxbridge]] – "Thou Shalt Not Kill" ([[Brunel University]]) & "Bad Apple".
*[[Wandsworth]] – "Queens Pawn", "Jigsaw", "Abduction", "Country Boy", "Tomorrow Man", "May", "Drag Act" & "Sweeney 2".
*[[White City, London|White City]] – "May" ([[White City Stadium]]).
*[[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]] – "Contact Breaker" ([[Wimbledon Stadium]]), "Stay Lucky, Eh?" "May", "Lady Luck" & "Money, Money, Money".
*[[Wokingham]], [[Berkshire]] – "Thin Ice".

==Series overview==
{{Series overview

| color1 = #FF6333
| link1 = #Series 1 (1975)
| episodes1 = 13
| start1 = {{Start date|1975|1|2|df=y}}
| end1 = {{End date|1975|3|27|df=y}}

| color2 = #37CD33
| link2 = #Series 2 (1975)
| episodes2 = 13
| start2 = {{Start date|1975|9|1|df=y}}
| end2 = {{End date|1975|11|24|df=y}}

| color3 = #FFFF33
| link3 = #Series 3 (1976)
| episodes3 = 13
| start3 = {{Start date|1976|9|6|df=y}}
| end3 = {{End date|1976|12|20|df=y}}

| color4 = #B10047
| link4 = #Series 4 (1978)
| episodes4 = 14
| start4 = {{Start date|1978|9|7|df=y}}
| end4 = {{End date|1978|12|28|df=y}}
}}

==Episodes==

===Series 1 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#FF6333|overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 1 | EpisodeNumber = 1
| Title               = Ringer
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|1|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Detective Inspector Jack Regan endangers an operation and loses his girlfriend's car.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 2 | EpisodeNumber = 2
| Title               = Jackpot
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|1|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan and his team are suspected of pocketing £35,000.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 3 | EpisodeNumber = 3
| Title               = Thin Ice
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|1|16|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A crook flees the country but leaves his beloved pet dog behind - Regan is determined to still bring him to justice. Meanwhile at Heathrow Airport, DS Carter accompanies a seriously injured passenger to hospital by ambulance. 
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 4 | EpisodeNumber = 4
| Title               = Queen's Pawn
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|1|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Three crooks walk out of court as free men. Regan is determined to get a conviction and plans to make one of them [[Turn state's evidence|turn Queen's evidence]].
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 5 | EpisodeNumber = 5
| Title               = Jigsaw
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|1|30|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan tries to nail a criminal for robbery, and meets opposition from an MP.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 6 | EpisodeNumber = 6
| Title               = Night Out
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|2|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan gets suspicious about an invitation to spend a night out with an old friend.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 7 | EpisodeNumber = 7
| Title               = The Placer
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|2|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan goes undercover to break a ring of lorry hijackers.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 8 | EpisodeNumber = 8
| Title               = Cover Story
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|2|20|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A beautiful journalist poses problems for Regan.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 9 | EpisodeNumber = 9
| Title               = Golden Boy
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|2|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A chance encounter in a pub puts Regan on the trail of gold [[bullion]] robbers.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 10 | EpisodeNumber = 10
| Title               = Stoppo Driver
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|3|6|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A gang boss plans to blackmail a Flying Squad driver into driving a getaway car.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 11 | EpisodeNumber = 11
| Title               = Big Spender
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|3|13|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Large amounts of money being spent lead Regan to the Smiths — and another case.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 12 | EpisodeNumber = 12
| Title               = Contact Breaker
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|3|20|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan tries to prove that a prisoner on parole has nothing to do with a bank raid.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 13 | EpisodeNumber = 13
| Title               = Abduction
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1975|3|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan's daughter is kidnapped.
| LineColor           = FF6333|
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1975)===
{{Episode table |background=#37CD33|overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | EpisodeNumber = 14
 |Title          = Chalk and Cheese
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|9|1|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = A former boxing friend of Carter's is mixed up in a series of robberies.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | EpisodeNumber = 15
 |Title          = Faces
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|9|8|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Investigating a series of security van robberies is multiply complicated by past Squad encounters and interference by [[MI5]].
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | EpisodeNumber = 16
 |Title          = Supersnout
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|9|15|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = With Haskins on holiday, Quirk takes charge - but his source might be wanting to do him over.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | EpisodeNumber = 17
 |Title          = Big Brother
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|9|22|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Suspect Andy Deacon collapses during an interview with Jack Regan - and his brother wants revenge.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | EpisodeNumber = 18
 |Title          = Hit and Run
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|9|29|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = George Carter’s wife, Alison, is killed in a deliberate hit and run. 
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | EpisodeNumber = 19
 |Title          = Trap
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|10|6|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = After A10 investigates, Regan gets a promotion from the Golden Maid Dairy Robbery five years earlier.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | EpisodeNumber = 20
 |Title          = Golden Fleece
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|10|13|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Two Australians commit eleven armed robberies.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | EpisodeNumber = 21
 |Title          = Poppy
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|10|20|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Violent robber, Vic Labbett, returns from exile.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 | EpisodeNumber = 22
 |Title          = Stay Lucky Eh?
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|10|27|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Two safe breakers are robbed at gunpoint by a mysterious villain 
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | EpisodeNumber = 23
 |Title          = Trojan Bus
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|11|3|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Col and Ray the two Australian armed robbers use a bus for an art theft.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 | EpisodeNumber = 24
 |Title          = I Want the Man
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|11|10|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Informant Popeye is abducted by Maynard.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 | EpisodeNumber = 25
 |Title          = Country Boy
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|11|17|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Telephone engineer Ronald Peters is kidnapped and bound by an armed gang.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 | EpisodeNumber = 26
 |Title          = Thou Shalt Not Kill
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1975|11|24|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = The university branch of the National Mercian Bank is robbed.
 |LineColor      = 37CD33
}}
}}

===Series 3 (1976)===
{{Episode table |background=#FFFF33 |overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | EpisodeNumber = 27
 |Title          = Selected Target
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|9|6|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = While in prison, inmates Titus Oates and Colly Kibber plan a robbery.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | EpisodeNumber = 28
 |Title          = In from the Cold
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|9|13|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Some years earlier, Billy Medhurst a gang member who shot a police sergeant escapes to Spain but returns.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | EpisodeNumber = 29
 |Title          = Visiting Fireman
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|9|20|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = A Turkish policeman arrives in England.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | EpisodeNumber = 30
 |Title          = Tomorrow Man
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|9|27|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Regan and Carter meet Dennis Longfield who is being harassed by a former business partner
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | EpisodeNumber = 31
 |Title          = Taste of Fear
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|10|4|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Regan's new skipper loses his nerve when two army deserters go on a violent robbery spree
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | EpisodeNumber = 32
 |Title          = Bad Apple
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|10|11|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Regan goes undercover to investigate police corruption
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | EpisodeNumber = 33
 |Title          = May
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|10|25|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Young Davey Holmes is arrested following the attack of a retired money lender.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | EpisodeNumber = 34
 |Title          = Sweet Smell of Succession
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|11|8|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Gang leader Joe Castle dies and his associates clash over his legacy
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 9 | EpisodeNumber = 35
 |Title          = Down to You, Brother
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|11|22|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Ex-criminal Raymond Meadows cons Regan to investigate his daughter's boyfriend
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 10 | EpisodeNumber = 36
 |Title          = Pay Off
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|11|29|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = A casino croupier asks Carter to investigate the disappearance of her boyfriend.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 11 | EpisodeNumber = 37
 |Title          = Loving Arms
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|12|6|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = A hard up gunsmith is conned into adapting fake guns into real ones.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 12 | EpisodeNumber = 38
 |Title          = Lady Luck
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|12|13|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Regan meets a housewife, Marcia Edmunds, at a pub.
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
{{Episode list
 |EpisodeNumber2 = 13 | EpisodeNumber = 39
 |Title          = On The Run
 |RTitle         = 
 |OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1976|12|20|df=y}}
 |ShortSummary   = Violent psychopath Tim Cook absconds from custody during a hospital visit vowing revenge on Regan
 |LineColor      = FFFF33
}}
}}

===Series 4 (1978)===
{{Episode table |background=#B10047 |overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 1 | EpisodeNumber = 40
| Title               = Messenger of the Gods
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|9|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A drunk Regan pulls Lukey Sparrow for questioning for the theft of mercury worth £30,000.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 2 | EpisodeNumber = 41
| Title               = Hard Men
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|9|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A dour Scottish sergeant arrives from Glasgow. (It has been suggested that this was a "stealth pilot" for a spin-off series featuring Glasgow Police Detective Sergeant Davy Freeth, played by [[James Cosmo]], but not followed through.)
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 3 | EpisodeNumber = 42
| Title               = Drag Act
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|9|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A gang of cold-blooded thieves set off on lorries, killing a driver and injuring a policeman.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 4 | EpisodeNumber = 43
| Title               = Trust Red
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|9|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Despite losing his nerve, a lifetime criminal ex-para is coerced into doing one last job.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 5 | EpisodeNumber = 44
| Title               = Nightmare
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|10|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A lorry containing cigars is hijacked and one of the robbers plus the driver is killed.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 6 | EpisodeNumber = 45
| Title               = Money, Money, Money
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|10|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A former small time villan wins the pools but is then fleeced by a blackmailer.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 7 | EpisodeNumber = 46
| Title               = Bait
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|10|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan is staking out a robber Vic Tolman.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 8 | EpisodeNumber = 47
| Title               = The Bigger They Are
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|10|26|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A wealthy man is blackmailed by a petty crook who has evidence of his war atrocities.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 9 | EpisodeNumber = 48
| Title               = Feet of Clay
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|11|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Alan Ember's son, Paul, is kidnapped with a ransom of £10,000.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 10 | EpisodeNumber = 49
| Title               = One of Your Own
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|11|9|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Carter goes to prison with Jimmy Fleet to discover the truth behind a diamond heist
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 11 | EpisodeNumber = 50
| Title               = Hearts and Minds
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|11|23|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = A professor with a secret drug formula is pursued by foreign criminals intent on stealing it.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 12 | EpisodeNumber = 51
| Title               = Latin Lady
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|11|30|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Gynaecologist Dr Delacroix leaves his clinic on the way to the airport.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 13 | EpisodeNumber = 52
| Title               = Victims
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|12|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Haskins' wife has a nervous breakdown.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber2      = 14 | EpisodeNumber = 53
| Title               = Jack or Knave
| RTitle              = 
| OriginalAirDate     = {{Start date|1978|12|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary        = Regan is accused of corruption again and is arrested. Despite being cleared he angrily resigns from the Met at the end.
| LineColor           = B10047|
}}
}}

==Films==
{{main|Sweeney!|Sweeney 2|The Sweeney (2012 film)|The Squad (2015 film)}}The cinematic versions of ''The Sweeney'' feature the same actors and characters as the TV series, however both films have levels of swearing, violence, sex and nudity that would not have been possible on television at the time.

=== ''Sweeney!'' (1977) ===
In ''[[Sweeney!]]'', Regan and Carter become involved in a plot which shares similarities to the 1963 [[Profumo affair]] and British actor [[Barry Foster (actor)|Barry Foster]] features as an American socialite loosely based on [[Stephen Ward]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lubin |first=Gus |title=FLASHBACK: At Least Petraeus Wasn't Having An Affair With The Mistress Of A Soviet Spy |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-profumo-affair-2012-11?r=US&IR=T |website=Business Insider |access-date=2 February 2019 |date=13 November 2012}}</ref> Made in 1976, and released in 1977, the film appears to be set in 1979. On screen and in-film references include the line "The same damned speech you made in 1978" and a large banner at the [[OPEC]] delegates meeting features the convention's logo and the year "1979".<ref>''[[Sweeney!]]'' (1977) David Wickes [film]. [[EMI Films]].</ref> This suggests that the events of the film occur after the end of the television series chronologically, assuming series 4 is set in 1978 as broadcast.

=== ''Sweeney 2'' (1978) ===
In ''[[Sweeney 2]]'', Regan and Carter are on the trail of particularly violent armed criminals. The gang has carried out bank and payroll robberies all over London and killed anyone who got in their way, even their own members. Regan and Carter are assigned the case as a last order from Detective Chief Superintendent Jupp ([[Denholm Elliott]]) before he resigns to face allegations of corruption in the courts.<ref>''[[Sweeney 2]]'' (1978) [[Tom Clegg (director)|Tom Clegg]] [film]. [[EMI Films]]</ref>

=== 2012 reboot ===
In director [[Nick Love]]'s film, the characters from the TV series are re-imagined, and the setting and action are moved to the early 21st century. ''[[The Sweeney (2012 film)|The Sweeney]]'' (2012) stars [[Ray Winstone]] (who had a very minor role in the 1976 ''Sweeney'' episode "Loving Arms") as Regan, [[Plan B (musician)|Ben Drew]] as Carter and [[Damian Lewis]] as Haskins.

''[[The Guardian]]''<nowiki/>'s Steve Rose gave Love's film a one-star review, saying that "rather than upgrading the 1970s TV favourite [the 2012 film] treats it like a stolen car – to be stripped down, resprayed and erased of identifying features. Only the brand name has been retained."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-06-27|title=The Sweeney – review|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/27/the-sweeney-review|access-date=2022-01-12|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

The 2012 film was remade in France as ''[[The Squad (2015 film)|The Squad]]'' in 2015, also known as ''The Sweeney: Paris''.

==Music==
{{Wikiquote}}
The title theme music and end credit reprise were both written by [[Harry South]], a key figure in British jazz during the 1950s and 1960s. [[Dave Gelly]] writing in ''The Guardian'' called South's title music "the most emblematic TV theme of its day".<ref>Gelly, Dave. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/02/harry-south-the-songbook-review-box-set-sweeney-theme 'Harry South: The Songbook review – a perfect potted history'] in ''The Guardian'', 2 July 2017</ref>

Incidental and background music for the series was selected from off-the-shelf production music libraries, including [[De Wolfe Music|De Wolfe]], [[KPM Musichouse|KPM]], [[Bruton Music|Bruton]] and [[Chappell Music|Chappell]],<ref>[http://www.mark-1.co.uk/Sweeney%20tracks.html#:~:text=Shut%20it!-,The%20Music%20of%20%22The%20Sweeney%22,British%20television%20series%20The%20Sweeney. Shut it! The Music of "The Sweeney", Sanctuary SANCD092 (2001)]</ref> Music by [[Steve Gray (musician)|Steve Gray]]'s library music ensemble WASP was specially commissioned, and featured heavily in the series. Some of the music was later issued on KPM 1000 Series albums ''The Hunter'' (KPM 1157) and ''Drama'' (KPM 1168), both 1975.<ref>Oliver Lomax. ''The Mood Modern'' (2018), pp. 342-3</ref> 

In 2001 a soundtrack album ''Shut it! The Music of The Sweeney'' was released, containing a selection of the incidental music used in the programme, some augmented with classic pieces of dialogue from various episodes. Also included on the album is the main title theme music from the first feature film, ''Sweeney!''.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Various-Shut-It-The-Music-Of-The-Sweeney/release/396430 Discogs]</ref>

==Books==
Nine books were written and released in 1977 published by Futura Publications Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thesweeney.info/swag/swag.html |title=The Sweeney - Swag |publisher=thesweeney.info |access-date=2010-05-31}}</ref>
*''The Sweeney''<ref name="novel review">[http://www.trashfiction.co.uk/sweeney_regan.html Book review], trashfiction.co.uk</ref>
*''Regan and the Manhattan File''
*''Regan and the Deal of the Century''
*''Regan and the Lebanese Shipment''
*''Regan and the Human Pipeline''<ref name="novel review" />
*''Regan and the Bent Stripper''
*''Regan and the Snout Who Cried Wolf''
*''Regan and the Venetian Virgin''
*''Regan and the High Rollers''

The first three books were written by Ian Kennedy Martin, the rest by Joe Balham. The plots of the books are not taken from any of the television episodes; overall, the tone of the books differs somewhat from the television series in that Regan is usually depicted as working alone, and his relationship with Carter is distinctly unfriendly.<ref name="novel review" />

==Popular culture==

*In 1977, the [[BBC]] responded to the success of ''The Sweeney'' on ITV and commissioned its own hard-hitting police series, ''[[Target (British TV series)|Target]]''. It was heavily criticised for the levels of violence and the BBC cancelled it after two series.
*The repeat of the episode "Selected Target" on 21 December 1978 recorded the highest viewing figure of the series, with 19.05 million people watching. This coincided with a 24-hour strike at the BBC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesweeney.info/episodes.html |title=The Sweeney - Episode Guide |publisher=thesweeney.info |date=1974-06-04 |access-date=2010-06-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvfeatures.thetvroomplus.com/feature-53.html |title=Industrial Disputes |publisher=The TV Room |access-date=2010-06-13 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717000810/http://tvfeatures.thetvroomplus.com/feature-53.html |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*''The Sweeney'' is mentioned in the songs "[[Wow (Kate Bush song)|Wow!]]" by [[Kate Bush]]<ref name="Guardian2012">{{cite news |last=Chesterton |first=George |title=Old music: Kate Bush – Wow |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jan/25/old-music-kate-bush-wow |access-date=1 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=25 January 2012}}</ref> and "[[Cool for Cats (song)|Cool For Cats]]" by [[Squeeze (band)|Squeeze]].
*In the orange-tinted photographs that are shown in the closing credits for series 1–3, an enlarged set of fingerprints is displayed on a board behind Detective Chief Inspector Haskins.
*Reference is made to ''The Sweeney'' in the ''[[Black Books]]'' episode "[[List of Black Books episodes|The Blackout]]".
*Regan and Carter appear briefly as part of a stakeout operation in one of the novelisations of the TV series ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]''.
*[[Scotland Yard]]'s real [[Flying Squad]] lost an important surveillance technique when ''The Sweeney'' exposed their use of the roadside tents erected by [[telephone]] [[engineers]], who would place them over open manholes in the street to protect them from the weather. These tents are frequently shown in the series as hideaways for keeping a covert eye on suspects.
*A two-part 1998 instalment of ''[[Diagnosis: Murder]]'', "Obsession", features lead villains named Carter Sweeney and Regan Sweeney.
*The creators of the show ''[[Life on Mars (British TV series)|Life on Mars]]'' and its sequel, ''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]'', have often stated that ''The Sweeney'' influenced both programmes.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wylie |first=Ian |title=Ashes to Ashes: co-creator Matthew Graham says goodbye to Gene Hunt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/may/21/ashes-to-ashes-final-episode |work=The Guardian |date=2010-05-21 |access-date=2020-04-20 |issn=0261-3077 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
*To date, one episode of ''The Sweeney'' has been shown on the BBC. It was shown on 31 May 1993 as part of the "Cops on the Box" segment of BBC2's "Crime and Punishment" season.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1993-05-31#at-18.55| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141016233001/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1993-05-31#at-18.55| url-status = dead| archive-date = 16 October 2014| title = Schedule - BBC Programme Index}}</ref> The episode broadcast was "Supersnout". It was introduced by [[Shaw Taylor]], known for his ''Police 5'' series on ITV.
*In the UK, repeats were shown on [[Gold (British TV channel)|UK Gold]] and [[Channel 5 (British TV channel)|Channel 5]] in the 1990s. In the 2020s, episodes are repeated most weekdays on [[ITV4]].

===''Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown''===
The 1993 [[The Comic Strip|Comic Strip]] film ''[[Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown]]'' features a character introduced as "Shouting George from ''The Weeny''" (played by [[Jim Broadbent]]).

===Comics===
In 1977 and 1978, publishers [[Brown Watson]], which specialised in annuals based on TV series, published two editions of ''The Sweeney Annual'' featuring a mix of comic strips (some with art by [[Brian Lewis (illustrator)|Brian Lewis]]) and illustrated text stories, interspersed with occasional features on the TV series, articles about policing, puzzles and, in the 1978 annual, an interview with Thaw and Waterman.

From 1979, the comic ''[[Jackpot (British comics)|Jackpot]]'' featured a strip called "The Teeny Sweeney" which was drawn by [[Jack Edward Oliver|J. Edward Oliver]]. A trio of schoolboys played at being plain-clothes policemen, with two of them looking like little versions of Regan and Carter. They even had "Flying Squad" written on the side of their go-carts. Their attempts at being helpful, however, almost always ended in disaster.

===Nissan TV ad===
A TV ad for the [[Nissan]] [[Almera]] car in the late 1990s had two characters similar to Carter and Regan racing through London to deal with a "bank job".<ref>{{cite web |title=The best car adverts ever - 19. Nissan Almera: The Sweeney |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nissan/61506/nissan-almera-sweeney |website=Auto Express |access-date=2 February 2019 |date=12 December 2012}}</ref> A suspicious group of men have entered a bank dressed as painters. As "Carter" races the car through the streets, "Regan" keeps bellowing at him and others to "Shut it!"

At one stage, "Regan" shouts "Mark it!", which is slang for following a suspect, but in this case, means "market" as "Carter" drives erratically through a marketplace. "Carter" tells "Regan" to stop shouting, to which "Regan" barks the reply "I can't!"

When they burst into the bank, it turns out that the men are genuine painters and that "Regan", their guv (or boss), is there to tell them they are using the wrong sort of white paint(!) "Carter" says, "Think we'd better go back to the [[New Scotland Yard|yard]], guv, and get some more." "Shut up!"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9K_EkU9KZE  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Z9K_EkU9KZE| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Nissan Almera Advert - Sweeney Spoof |date=18 October 2006 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2010-05-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

One of the painters talks in a squeaky voice and is called "Squealer", which is slang for [[informant]]. "Regan" was portrayed in the advert by [[Phil Cornwell]], and featured [[Nosher Powell]] as a Snack Bar owner.

==Home video releases==
The complete TV series of ''The Sweeney'' was released by Network on fourteen DVDs in 2005. This release did not include the pilot film ''Regan'' or either of the two feature films.

''Regan'' was released on DVD in November 2005.

Both films, ''Sweeney!'' and ''Sweeney 2'', have also been released on DVD.

In 2007 Network released an 18-disc boxset containing ''Regan'', all four television series and both feature films. The boxset also contains exclusive extras, listed below:

''Regan'':
*Introduction by Ian Kennedy-Martin.
Commentary with Dennis Waterman, producer Ted Childs and director Tom Clegg.

''Series One'':
*Interview with creator Ian Kennedy-Martin.
Commentaries with Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan, producer Ted Childs, writers [[Trevor Preston]] and Troy Kennedy-Martin, directors Tom Clegg and David Wickes and editor Chris Burt.

*"Thick as Thieves" episode and "Special Branch" episode.
Episode introductions by guest stars Warren Mitchell, Wanda Ventham, Prunella Gee, John Forgeham, Billy Murray, Tony Selby and Dudley Sutton.

*Restoring ''The Sweeney''

''Series Two'':
*Interview with stunt arranger Peter Brayham.
*"Wild Boys" featurette.
*''The Sweeney'' annual PDF.
*Interview with writer Roger Marshall.
*"Golden Fleece" episode script PDF.

Episode introductions by guest stars Bill Maynard, Gwen Taylor, James Booth, Ken Hutchison and Lynda Bellingham.

*''Sweeney!'' film trailer with introduction by Lynda Bellingham.
*''Sweeney!'' film promotional gallery.

''Series Three'':
*"Redcap" episode.
*"Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show" 1976 sketch.
*"Strange Report" episode.
*Episode introductions by guest stars Geraldine James, Steven Pacey, George Sweeney, Nadim Sawalha, Tina Heath and John Lyons.
*"ITV – This is Your Life" clip from 1976 Thames trailer.
*"Evening News Film Awards" clip.
*''The Sweeney'' 1977 Annual PDF

''Series Four'':
*"The Electric Theatre Show" interviews with John Thaw, Dennis Waterman and Ted Childs.
*"This is Your Life – John Thaw" extract.
*"This is Your Life – Dennis Waterman" extract.
*Series 4 textless titles with dual sound.
*Episode introductions by guest stars James Warrior, George Sewell, Jenny Runacre, Nick Stringer, Gary Morecambe and Peter Wight.
*''Sweeney'' film trailer with introduction by Ken Hutchison and James Warrior.
*''Sweeney 2'' promotional gallery PDF.
*Out-takes.
*''The Sweeney'' 1978 Annual PDF.
*Stills gallery Extract from "Behind the Sunshine" PDF, recounting the making of "Hearts and Minds".

''Sweeney!'' and ''Sweeney 2'':
*Commentary on ''Sweeney!'' with Ted Childs, [[Ranald Graham]] and David Wickes.
*Commentary on ''Sweeney 2'' with Ted Childs and Tom Clegg.
*Textless material.
**These extras are exclusive to the boxset.

All four series are now available as Region 1 (North America) DVDs.

===Blu-ray release===
In 2012, the first series was released on high-definition [[Blu-ray]] by Network. For this release the original 16&nbsp;mm film negatives were scanned in HD and comprehensively restored by [[BBC Studios and Post Production]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbcstudiosandpostproduction.com/our-work/the-sweeney/?case_study_category=digital-media-services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006061454/http://www.bbcstudiosandpostproduction.com/our-work/the-sweeney/?case_study_category=digital-media-services |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 October 2013 |title=The Sweeney |publisher=BBC Studios and Post Production |access-date=16 November 2013}}</ref>

The pilot episode ''Regan'' was also given a Blu-ray release by Network at roughly the same time.

In September 2018, Network confirmed via Twitter that [[Blu-ray]] releases of Series&nbsp;2 to 4 had been abandoned due to "lack of demand".<ref>{{cite web |last=Distributing |first=Network |title=Hi Scott, I'm afraid that because of a lack of demand we decided not to go ahead with more Sweeney on Blu-ray. |url=https://twitter.com/networktweets/status/1036618464893513730 |website=@networktweets |access-date=1 February 2019 |date=3 September 2018}}</ref>

Old Gold Media has announced it will re-release series 1 on Blu-ray in the UK on June 2, 2025, from a brand new 2025 remaster. Two versions of the pilot episode ''Regan'' will be included.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [[Manuel Alvarado]] and John Stewart, ''Made for Television: Euston Films Limited''. London: Methuen/BFI, 1985. {{ISBN|0-423-01310-6}}.
* Robert Fairclough and Mike Kenwood, ''Sweeney! The Official Companion''. London: Reynolds & Hearn Ltd., 2002. {{ISBN|1-903111-43-9}}. ([http://www.mediagems.de/01filmtv/companion_review.html review]).
* [[Dennis Waterman]], ''Reminder''. Hutchinson, 2000. {{ISBN|0-09-180108-7}}.
* [[Martin Day (writer)|Martin Day]] and [[Keith Topping]], ''Shut It!'' [[Virgin Books]], 1999. {{ISBN|0-7535-0355-7}}.
* Mike Kenwood and George Williams, ''Fags, Blags, Slags & Jags: the Sweeney. The Unofficial Companion to the TV Series'', 1998. No ISBN.
* [[Troy Kennedy Martin]], "Four of a Kind", in: [[H.R.F. Keating]], ed., ''Crime Writers''. London: BBC, 1978. {{ISBN|0-563-16287-2}}.
* Andrew Pixley, "The Sweeney: Compulsive Viewing", in: ''Prime Time'' Magazine, issue 13. London: WTVA ("Wider Television Access"), circa 1984. {{ISSN|0266-0083}}.

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0071059}}
* {{Epguides|Sweeney}}
* {{Screenonline TV title|473709}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120120214114/http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/television/drama/sweeney.htm The Sweeney] at Nostalgia Central
* [http://www.anorakzone.com/sweeneyrank1.html The Sweeney ranked]
* Ian Kennedy-Martin, [http://www.iankennedymartin.com/page4.htm The Sweeney: a preamble] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911212533/http://www.iankennedymartin.com/page4.htm |date=11 September 2019 }}
*David Wickes: [https://www.davidwickesproductions.com/productions/sweeney/ The Sweeney]

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